Doyle is Birmingham's promotion saver

The celebrations in the visiting dug-out when Colin Doyle saved Michael McIndoe's injury-time penalty suggested they did not believe they had merely won this match. Such was the euphoria among the manager, coaching staff and players that it was clear Birmingham, back to the top of the table, believed this was the day promotion was secured. Four points from the final two fixtures will suffice.

Matches such as this should come with health warnings for managers, an intoxicating second half bringing all five goals as Birmingham went ahead through Andy Cole before falling behind in the space of four frenetic minutes, only to equalise and then regain the lead when Cameron Jerome scored in the 88th minute. McIndoe, whose two headed goals had wrested the match back in Wolves' favour, could have brought parity but Doyle saved comfortably.

It was too much for Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager unable to contain his frustration as he vented his anger at the officials. With some justification, he felt his side should have been awarded an earlier penalty when the hapless Bruno N'Gotty scythed down Michael Kightly. Graham Laws disagreed, the referee allowing play to go on, with Birmingham winning a corner at the other end and Nicklas Bendtner heading home.

"It was a stonewall penalty," said McCarthy. "McIndoe taking a penalty at 2-1 up is a hugely different experience to taking one at 3-2 down for an equaliser. We have got the drug testers here today," he added. "They shouldn't be going to see the players - they should go to the officials' room.

"I am absolutely livid. Some people are that smug and arrogant and think that they are never wrong."

McCarthy's anger was understandable. He had not only seen his side fall victim to a poor decision but also miss a penalty for the fourth time this season - four different players have failed - after dominating this encounter for long periods. Only Doyle, outstanding as he produced five excellent first-half saves, prevented Wolves from entering the interval in front.

Wolves's profligacy would soon be punished, Cole lifting the ball over Matt Murray after Bendtner had flicked on. It was his first goal for Birmingham and could not have been timed better given that Steve Bruce was considering withdrawing the 35-year-old. Cole did not last much longer and nor did Birmingham's lead, McIndoe spearing Kightly's deep cross back across goal in the 67th minute before nodding Andy Keogh's delivery inside the far post moments later.

Back came Birmingham again, Sebastian Larsson's corner emphatically headed inside the near upright by Bendtner. Birmingham might have settled for a point at that point but, to their credit, victory was seized, Gary McSheffrey's sliderule pass exposing Wolves' abject offside trap and allowing Jerome to scamper clear and steer a low shot beyond Murray.

Bruce conceded that McCarthy had a right to feel aggrieved about N'Gotty's challenge on Kightly but the Birmingham manager said that McSheffrey, bundled over by Neill Collins in the fifth minute, might also have had a spot-kick. "I think [the referee] evened it up," he said. Bruce was less enamoured of Law's decision to award a penalty when N'Gotty pushed Jody Craddock in the 92nd minute.

"It was an unbelievable game, as exciting a match as I have ever been involved in," said Bruce. "Maybe it was a bit harsh on Wolves." McCarthy, still seething, seemed inclined to agree.